TRAVEL BACK IN TIME AROUND PRETORIA

Welcome aboard Friends of the Rail

You’ve boarded one of our 60-year-old railway coaches at our private Hermanstad Station and settled into your seat, knowing that your car is safe and being looked after by our staff. One of our vintage steam locomotives has chuffed-up and coupled onto the train. The guard has waved his flag, the loco whistle has blown and we’re off!

You sit back and completely relax as the city slips effortlessly by, accompanied by the smells and sounds of the steam loco up-front. The coach wheels beneath rap gently over the rail joints — clack-clack, clack-clack. You cannot help but enjoy train travel in the relaxed way it used to be. You sip hot coffee or cool refreshments from the on-board kiosk and answer your children’s many excited questions. You do not have to keep your eyes on the road. You point out the many familiar sights: the Union Buildings, Loftus stadium, UNISA, Gautrain, the 1910 Pretoria station building, etc, all from a different angle. Before you know it, we are back at Hermanstad station and you didn’t even have to drive. That wasn’t simply train-travel that you’ve just experienced, that was time-travel as well! Indeed, with us you really do travel back in time. And… you do not have to dream it!

On this website you will find details of various FOTR steam train excursions to Cullinan and our “Tshwane Xplorer” shorter trips around our beautiful capital city. Our trips are very popular. They fill up fast. Book now for a great day out that you, your children and your friends will remember for a long time to come. Come along with us and in so doing, help us to preserve South Africa’s unique railway heritage.